Constantly, it challenged the tenacious grip on his cogent thoughts. Eventually, he would cave into its demands helplessly like a slave to its all-pow...rful master. He felt hope leech away with the sweep of the minutes from his mantel clock.In the cold light of morning over a sour, over-strong coffee, a single text message compounded his misery.“Hi, sorry to leave you to it at Club Babylon but we both knew it would end eventually. I’m done with it all and enrolling in college in the autumn.. Who would be drinking beer this time of day?Turns out there was a marathon being run through the area, which would explain the arrows drawn in the road with flour. Runners would use them to navigate the course. (Can you believe some dipshit actually reported them to the cops for spreading anthrax?) The partiers were part of the marathon support crew, although why they’d be serving beer to runners baffled me. What runner would drink beer during his race?I thanked them for the offer and went on. When his eyes left mine, I knew that I wouldn't have any more trouble with him - he'd see to it that he stayed away from me to avoid it.To give him some cover so he could leave - and he wanted to, desperately - I said "Gus, I don't want any trouble - but I don't want to be around people that insult my friends, either."He seized on the chance I'd given him and declared "Fine. You and the... girl do what you want; I'm heading for the gym" before turning and walking away.Sam seemed surprised that. Nothing happened for minutes. My mind raced. I had just admitted to my older sister that I had an incestual crush on her. In our family we were always modest and the most I had ever seen of Mona was her in a bikini. I could not believe how stupid I was and now after all she had been through I had frightened her and tears ran down my cheek.Mona spoke slowly, "I always knew how you felt about me. I know you love me and care for me. I only feel safe when you're around now. There is no reason we.